Monitors Currently there are three types of video panels used in monitors. They are TN (Twisted Nematic), IPS (In-Plane-Switching) and VA (Vertical Alignment). The majority of panels, regardless of type, are manufactured by LG, Samsung, or a Chinese concern AU Optronics. AU Optronics panels are generally cheaper and of lower quality than LG and Samsung and are found in lower end products for the most part. Unfortunately, even low cost monitors produced by LG and Samsung may contain AU Optronics panels. LG and Samsung panels are generally comparable with the winner for any given screen size, resolution, and type being determined by the sophistication of the circuitry used to drive the panel. TN Panels TN panels are the least expensive. Their greatest benefit, excluding cost, is a response time of 1 or 2 milliseconds (ms). This eliminates ghosting while gaming and allows for exceptionally high frame rates. Its negatives are viewing angle and color palette. The viewing angle of a TN monitor is very poor in the vertical and poor horizontally. If you move your head 15 to 30 degrees off angle the contrast deteriorates and colors begin to fade rapidly. Add to this that the color palette is only 6 bits as opposed to 8 bits, 64 verses 256, for the other panel types makes this a gaming panel that can be used for general office use occasionally. IPS Panels Monitors using IPS panels used to be very expensive but now days they start nearly as low as TN paneled monitors. That is not to say that the best IPS monitors are cheap, just that some can be purchased at about the same price as a TN monitor. IPS panels are a bit slower than TN panels with a response time of 5 to 8 ms. And along with the larger palette that produces excellent colors it has a viewing angle of nearly 160 degrees both vertically and horizontally without color fade or loss of contrast. This panel is adequate for casual gamers, the best for photography and video editing, and more than adequate for any other purpose. IPS panels can also be called AHVA and PLS. VA Panel VA panels are the newest incarnation. Promising the best of both worlds they pretty much failed all the way around. Their single greatest improvement over the other two panels is contrast. Where TN and IPS have contrast ratios of about 1000:1, VA panels regularly achieve 2000:1 and can go as high a 5000:1. Viewing angles are around 80 degrees without deterioration besting TN but far less than IPS. Response times are as slow and can be far slower, 25 ms, than IPS when transitioning between darker colors. This panel is adequate for casual gaming, adequate for photography and video editing, and best for general office work if viewing angle is not an issue. VA panels can also be called MVA and S-PVA.